50 Wonders | Stuart Lipton: 1 Finsbury Avenue

Wonder: 1 Finsbury Avenue

Architect: Peter Foggo and Arup Associates

Nominator: Stuart Lipton

In the late 1970s I became involved, frankly by chance, in a number of large complex office developments in London. Cutlers Gardens in the City, a five-acre site with a series of public spaces, and Victoria Station, the first over-the-rail-tracks project built with a steel frame.

I had been visiting America for some years and saw how developers like Gerald D Hines used eminent architects to innovate by using well-regarded institutional designers.

I became gripped by the architecture drug. I use that word, drug, as when you become totally committed to a difficult subject you’re drawn into a world of complexity where nerves need to be calmed and emotions controlled.

I had worked with Arup as engineers. Sir Jack Zunz, second to Ove Arup himself, asked if I would like to meet Arup Associates, their architecture partnership. Jack arranged for me to meet Sir Phillip Dowson, who led the team, and so I spent two days with Phillip viewing their projects.

Later, I became the development partner of 1 Finsbury Avenue, a site on the edge of the City in what was then an urban jungle. Immediately I thought of Arup, for the site was a real challenge. In short Arup Associates needed to hold a partner meeting to agree if they would design a speculative building, not their practice then.

They agreed and Phillip pointed me to Peter Foggo. Peter was cautious in his approach to me but we began to discuss the opportunities for a new type of building for the UK: steel frame, efficient construction and fast-track delivery.

Peter was aghast at the timing, but I had seen in Arup the opportunity to break the mould in UK development. Peter presented eight options for massing and concept, most of which matched our brief of an interactive process with architect, client and construction team working together as a coordinated team

Soon we chose together a large-floor-plate, low-rise massing deemed by our estate agents to be too large, so the building was designed as two independent structures linked together.

Peter set to work with the design, drawing every element of the building himself, which produced one hand of design where every detail was drawn by Peter.

The result: collaboration with the principle trade contractors, particularly Gartner’s, on the facade.

For me it was a revelation: a building with creative architecture and innovation of almost every rule in development.

Highly effective architecture, a dynamic atrium, efficient bright, light floor plates, energy efficiency with external shading and a heated curtain wall. Construction was completed on cost in 15 months against the contract of 18 months. The building was almost entirely pre-let and a huge success in its relationship with the street and public space.

Over the years of the project, what had started as a suspicious relationship became a real friendship with long hours spent together typically on Sunday mornings, often just the two of us, where decisions were made on intricate details. No notes, no disagreements, just the ecstasy rather than the agony of architecture.

A brilliant piece by a brilliant architect unknown to the public: modest, ingenious and a real friend.

Broadgate followed, with other major projects at Victoria Station, Stockley Park and a highly ingenious plan for Paternoster Square which failed.

Peter Foggo, a man I will never forget.